South African musician Bongeziwe Mabandla confirmed his place as a key artist in the Black Alternative scene with the release of his fourth album, amaXesha. The 14-track album, produced in collaboration with Tiago Correia-Paulo, moved away from the simplicity of Mabandla’s previous three records, incorporating soul, R&B, jazz, pop, and electronica while retaining the traditional Xhosa folk music at the heart of Mabandla’s upbringing in the Eastern Cape.
The album’s singles, “ndikhale,” “noba bangathini,” and “ukuthanda wena,” explored themes of love, family, friendship, and self-reflection. Notably, the album featured Grammy-nominated mix engineer Stephen Sedgwick, who praised Mabandla’s voice, “Bongeziwe has such a beautiful voice, full of character and emotion, and I love the way it is complemented on the album by the atmospheric textures and organic percussive sounds of the production,” he said.
Mabandla is a multiple award-winning artist who has expanded his talents into Film and Visual Art. Alongside the release of amaXesha, he will perform a South African tour and European summer dates, including two sold-out shows at London’s 100 Club in June.
With amaXesha, Mabandla commits to building an intimate connection with his audience through his music. “I’m seeking those true feelings, those human moments that allow for a deep and lasting connection with the listener,” he explained. The album is available digitally, on CD, and vinyl, distributed globally through Integral.
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